The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Musa

  • Russia Cup final: Ahmed Musa aims to upstage Eto’o

    Russia Cup final: Ahmed Musa aims to upstage Eto’o

    Ahmed Musa has said he hopes CSKA Moscow beat Samuel Eto’o’s Anzhi to the Russia Cup on Saturday and complete a league and cup double.

    Nigeria international Musa, who is CSKA leading scorer with 14 goals, 11 in the league and three goals in the Russia Cup, said his team are seeking the double.

    “It is going to be good and tough game but we are battle ready to win the trophy. The double is my target and I will do my best to see that we win the cup at the expense of Anzhi. Eto’o is an African legend and I have learnt from him but I hope to beat him to the trophy,” Musa told MTNFootball.com.

    Compatriots Ogenyi Onazi and Efe Ambrose have won the cup in Italy and Scotland respectively and Musa said he hopes he could also follow suit.

    “I congratulate them for the success. God is in control, I will do my best to follow suit by winning with CSKA Moscow on Saturday,” he said.

    In the meantime, Ahmed Musa told MTNFootball.com that he will arrive Super Eagles camp ahead of a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Harambee Stars of Kenya.

    “I will play Russia cup final on June 1, I then will leave Russia for Germany to join the national team for the World Cup qualifiers,” Musa disclosed.

    He tasked Nigerians to pray for the Eagles and keep supporting them as they are set to land the World Cup ticket.

    “We will secure the world cup ticket, we will do our best on the field to achieve that, Nigerians should support us and pray for us as we won’t let them down,” he urged.

  • No winner takes it all show for Musa

    THE desire of Super Eagles ace Ahmed Musa and his teammates at CSKA to round off their title winning season on a victorious note hit the rocks Sunday as they were beaten by hosts Rostov at the Stadion Olimp 2 Sunday.

    Musa who was in full action for the side failed to register a goal as Rostov defence incidentally anchored by former Super Eagles defender Isaac Okoronkwo stood their ground while their strikers remained on rampage all aimed at giving their vociferous fans last match victory.

    Rostov eventually opened the floodgate of goals in the 19th

    minute through Dmitriy Poloz. Gabonese import Guelor Kanga increased the tally just before half time while Timofey Kalachev (Belarus) sealed victory in the 56th minute leaving the remaining minutes of the match for a ding-dong affair that produced no more goals.

    Second-placed Zenit St Petersburg were also facing lowly opposition in Amkar Perm but they could not find a breakthrough as the match finished goalless.

    Anzhi Makhachkala on their part had wrapped up third place, and a spot in the UEFA Europa League, but ended the season with a 1-0 defeat at Kuban Krasnodar. Ivelin Popov scored the only goal midway through the first half.

  • Player Of The Week Musa nominated

    Player Of The Week Musa nominated

    Top Russian football portal championat.com has shortlisted Nigeria international Ahmed Musa for the best player in the Russian Premier League for the 20th round of matches.

    To win the award, the CSKA Moscow striker will compete with Ari, Salvatore Bocchetti and Yura Movsisyan from Spartak Moscow, Balazs Dzsudzsak and Alexander Kokorin of Dynamo Moscow, Roman Eremenko and Sergey Ryzhikov of Rubin Kazan, Araz Ozbiliz of Kuban, Stipe Pletikosa of FC Rostov and teammate Vagner Love.

    Readers of championat.com will choose Russia’s Player of the Week for the last round of games. Points will be awarded to the best two players nominated by readers in the overall voting.

    Musa, 20, netted his ninth goal of the season in CSKA Moscow’s 2-0 win over Krylya Sovetov last weekend. By the way, that strike is one of five goals nominated for Goal of the Week in the championship.

  • Emenike, Uche to start against Ethiopia

    Emenike, Uche to start against Ethiopia

    … Yobo out again

    Super Eagles officials have again left out injury-hit skipper Joseph Yobo, while Emmanuel Emenike and Ike Uche lead the attack against Ethiopia.

    MTNFootball.com gathered that Yobo has not fully recovered from an ankle injury, which he picked up in the match against Burkina Faso, and so he will miss his second straight match of the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

    The vastly experienced Fenerbache defender returned to full training this week, but officials said he is not yet 100 percent fit for the crucial encounter.

    Stephen Keshi will therefore stick with the central defence pairing of Godfrey Oboabona and youngster Kenneth Omeruo.

    Celtic defender Efe Ambrose will regain his place at right back after he served out one-match ban for receiving a red card against Burkina Faso.

    Lazio youngster Ogenyi Onazi was the makeshift right back against Zambia on Friday.

    In midfield, Enugu Rangers new signing Sunday Mba will make his AFCON debut ahead of Real Betis ace Nosa Igiebor, who has struggled to impress in South Africa.

    The Eagles will parade a fast and daring strike force of Emmanuel Emenike, Ikechukwu Uche and Victor Moses.

    MTNFootball.com reported on Monday that Villarreal striker Uche will make his first start at this tournament on Tuesday.

    It means CSKA Moscow’s Ahmed Musa will start from the bench in this clash.

     

  • We won’t underrate Cape Verde – Musa

    We won’t underrate Cape Verde – Musa

    Super Eagles striker, Ahmed Musa has said they will not underrate giant killers Cape Verde in Wednesday’s African Cup of Nations warm-up in Portugal.

    Cape Verde will make their AFCON debut in South Africa after they eliminated four-time winners Cameroon in the qualifying tournament.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Nigeria and Cape Verde will be meeting for the first time on Wednesday in Faro, Portugal, and the West African islanders will rely on a 10-man Portugal-based contingent led by Heldon, Ze Luis and Djaniny to put to sword another big-name scalp.

    Cape Verde is ranked 69th in the world, while Nigeria is seven places ahead.

    The Blue Shark will play in Group A along with hosts South Africa, Angola and Morocco, while the Eagles will slug it out with Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia in group D.

    However, CSKA Moscow forward Musa has told MTNFootball.com the Eagles are fully prepared for Cape Verde, who remains largely a closed book.

    “We are ready for the game. I can’t say whether the game will be easy or tough because we know little or nothing about Cape Verde, but we are aware they stopped Cameroon from reaching AFCON 2013 but they should know we are the Super Eagles of Nigeria and not Cameroon,” Musa warned.

    “It is going to be a good test for us as Cape Verde will also play at the AFCON,” added Portland Timbers of USA striker Bright Dike, who scored Nigeria’s goal in last Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Catalonia.

    “I am looking forward to a good game and victory for the team, but getting another goal in this will be great for me, but I want victory,” he added.

     

  • EUROPEAN GOLDEN BALL AWARD

    EUROPEAN GOLDEN BALL AWARD

    Ahmed Musa, Alaba make list  

    SUPER EAGLES striker and CSKA Moscow ace Ahmed Musa top the list of nominees for this year’s European Golden Boy award released Monday.

    Musa who was in superb form for the Steven Keshi tutored side in the final Afcon 2013 qualifier against Liberia in Calabar that earned Nigeria ticket to the Nations Cup continued his scoring feat with club to the delight of teammates and coaching crew.

    Known for his pacy run on the 20 year old former Kano Pillars and VVV Venlo forward has made over 23 appearances with six goals in the kitty for the Russian side since joining them in January.

    Aside from Ahmed Musa, Nigeria born David Alaba who plies his trade with Champions League runners up Bayern Munich also made the list . The Austria international had an impressive outing in Bayern Munich Champions league battle against eventual winners Chelsea.

    The award, which is decided by journalists from Tuttosport, L’Equipe, Marca, Bild, The Times and De Telegraaf, has previously been won by some of the biggest names in world football including Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Rafael van der Vaart and Mario Balotelli while last season’s winner was Mario Gotze of Borussia Dortmund.

    •The complete list of nominees are:

    •David Alaba – Bayern Munich

    •Jano Ananidze – Spartak Moscow

    •Christian Atsu – FC Porto

    •Jean-Christophe Bahebeck – Troyes

    •Joel Campbell – Real Betis

    •Luc Castaignos – FC Twente

    •Thibaut Courtois – Atletico Madrid

    •Philippe Coutinho – Inter Milan

    •Gerard Deulofeu – Barcelona

    •Julian Draxler – Schalke

    •Dudu – Dynamo Kyiv

    •Stephan El Shaarawy – AC Milan

    •Christian Eriksen – Ajax

    •Mario Gotze – Borussia Dortmund

    •John Guidetti – Manchester City

    •Isco – Malaga

    •Jese – Real Madrid

    •Ola John – Benfica

    •Vaclav Kadlec – Sparta Prague

    •Koke – Atletico Madrid

    •Mateo Kovacic – Dinamo Zagreb

    •Milan Lalkovic – Vitoria Guimaraes

    •Erik Lamela – Roma

    •Jurgen Locadia – PSV Eindhoven

    •Samuele Longo – Espanyol

    •Lazar Markovic – Partizan Belgrade

    •Bruno Martins Indi – Feyenoord

    •Iker Muniain – Athletic Bilbao

    •Ahmed Musa – CSKA Moscow

    •Pedro Obiang – Sampdoria

    •Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Arsenal

    •Magomed Ozdoev – Lokomotiv Moscow

    •Paul Pogba – Juventus

    •Mohamed Salah – FC Basel

    •Jonjo Shelvey – Liverpool

    •Raheem Sterling – Liverpool

    •Raphael Varane – Real Madrid

    •Marco Verratti – PSG

    •Granit Xhaka – M’gladbach